Chrome book to be given to sixth through eighth graders in the fall of 2016

Paso Robles School District announced in May 2016 that Chromebooks will be granted to all sixth through eighth graders this fall. This district wide initiative plans on distributing chromebooks to approximately 1400 to 1500 students with around a $360,000 budget.

“We are making sure that (students) are ready for college, career, and community,” said Ronalee Andersen, Supervisor of Educational Technology at Paso Robles Joint Unified School District.

Students will check out the Chromebook just a like a textbook, and parents will have the option of buying insurance in case of an accidental break. Students will be able to work online, but with restrictions, due to the Children’s Internet Protection Act; the same act that limits the internet use at the high school. The life span of a Chromebook is three to four years and Andersen hopes to see the computer follow the kids into high school.

The computers come equipped with a hard case to make it more durable, a swivel camera for videos and pictures, a microphone with the technology available to make podcasts, a handle for easy carrying, and a 10 hour life span for all day work time.

The next step is bringing more of this technology to Paso Robles high school with the addition of better internet and more classroom computers, according to Andersen.

“What is so amazing is that it’s not necessarily just the device, but the information. You can find anything you want, so it’s really proctoring that information with kids and giving them the skills they need technically to be able to get ready for college; that is our goal,” Andersen said.